EV-97 TeamEurostar UK Eurostar, G-CEHL

Summary:

The student pilot was returning from a qualifying cross-country flight. The weather was good, Runway 27 was in use, and the surface wind was south-westerly at five knots or less. The chief flying instructor, who witnessed the accident, stated that the aircraft’s approach appeared normal until the “round-out phase” (flare). The aircraft’s attitude then remained slightly nose-down, instead of pitching up into the touchdown attitude, as it neared the runway. Touchdown occurred on the nose landing gear and, following three bounces of increasing magnitude, the nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to a halt. The pilot, unhurt, vacated the aircraft without difficulty. His report stated that he had misjudged his proximity to the ground, and that surprise and some confusion prevented him regaining control of the situation and going around.